The Kent State women’s basketball team ran out of gas in overtime for a second consecutive game last night at Northern Illinois in an 83-74 loss.

“Two games in a row we were up late in the game and our defense was just breaking down or they (Northern Illinois) were getting second shots to send it into overtime,” associate coach Lori Bodnar said on the 640 WHLO-AM post-game show.

The Huskies opened the overtime with a 9-0 run, just one game after Central Michigan outscored the Flashes 19-2 in overtime last Saturday. The team came up short despite a career-high scoring effort from freshman forward Chenel Harris, who had 25 points.

The Flashes faced adversity early, with freshman forward Ellie Shields committing two fouls in the first half. Shields went to the bench for the rest of the half and Kent State ended the first half down 37-26.

The Huskies finished the first half strong by scoring five points in the final eight seconds of play.

The Flashes controlled the ball, giving up a season-low eight turnovers and taking the ball from the Huskies 23 times. Kent State failed to cash in, however, scoring only 19 points off of the turnovers.

Senior forward Whitney Lowe led the Huskies in scoring and posted a double-double with 20 points and 10 boards. The Huskies shot 43.8 percent from the floor and 45 percent from the behind the 3-point line.

Despite shooting 37.7 percent from the floor, four of Kent State’s five starters finished the game in double figures. Along with Harris and Shields, junior guard Asheley Harkins scored 13 and sophomore guard Rachel Bennett scored 11.

Harkins finished the game with a career high eight steals, on a night where the Flashes recorded 18 steals as a team.

The Flashes return to action Saturday at noon against Ball State at the M.A.C. Center.

Contact sports reporter Thomas Gallick at [email protected].